Petunia plant named ‘Balcushite’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant named ‘Balcushite’, characterized by its white-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and vigorous, mounded-spreading growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Petunia x hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Balcushite’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant botanically known as Petunia x hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balcushite’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Arroyo Grande, Calif. during July 2015. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Petunia cultivars with single-type flowers, unique flower coloration and patterns, and vigorous, mounded-spreading growth habit.

The new Petunia cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is SUPERTUNIA White ‘KL 1117’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,485, characterized by its white-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and vigorous, mounding and outwardly spreading growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is SUN SPUN White ‘Balspunwhi’, not patented, characterized by its white-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, low growth vigor and compact-mounded growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during April 2016 in a controlled environment in Arroyo Grande, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since April 2016 in Arroyo Grande, Calif., and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balcushite’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant:

-   -   1. White-colored flowers;     -   2. Dark green-colored foliage; and     -   3. Vigorous, mounded-spreading growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in having darker green-colored foliage and larger petals with length measured from tube opening. Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the male parent primarily in having larger plant width and greater growth vigor.

Of the many commercially available Petunia cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is SUPERTUNIA VISTA Silverberry ‘USTUNI60-01M’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,903. However, in side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘USTUNI60-01M’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have a green-colored petal         venation that is different from the red-purple colored petal         venation in plants of ‘USTUNI60-01M’; and     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have larger diameter corollas than         plants of ‘USTUNI60-01M’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balcushite’. The plants were approximately 3.5 months old and grown in 6-inch pots for approximately 10 weeks in a greenhouse in West Chicago, Ill. Plants were given one pinch at transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balcushite’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual flower of ‘Balcushite’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in February 2019 under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe approximately 3.5-month old plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown in West Chicago, Ill. in 6-inch pots for approximately 10 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Plants were given one pinch at transplant. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 67° F. to 72° F. (19° C. to 22° C.) during the day and approximately 65° F. to 68° F. (18° C. to 20° C.) during the night. Supplemental lighting was used. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Petunia x hybrida ‘Balcushite’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—SUPERTUNIA White ‘KL 1117’, U.S. Plant Pat.             No. 25,485.         -   Male parent.—SUN SPUN White ‘Balspunwhi’, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 6 to 9 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 21 to 28             days.         -   Root description.—Fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 6 to 8 weeks from a             rooted cutting to finish in an 11 cm pot.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Vigorous,             mounded-spreading.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 15.0 cm. Width: Approximately 62.0 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching improves basal             branching. Quantity of main branches per plant:             Approximately 7.         -   Branch.—Strength: Moderate. Length: Approximately 32.0 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 4.0 mm. Length of central internode:             Approximately 3.1 cm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent             with a mixture of long and short hairs. Gland color:             Colorless. Color of young and mature stems: 144A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:             Approximately 14. Fragrance: Slight. Form: Simple.             Arrangement on flowering stem: Opposite.         -   Leaves.—Aspect: Acute angle to stem. Shape: Ovate. Margin:             Entire. Apex: Broadly acute. Base: Broadly attenuate.             Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf:             Approximately 5.5 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately             3.9 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Moderately             glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless. Color of upper             surface of young and mature foliage: 137A with venation of             147C to indistinguishable. Color of lower surface of young             and mature foliage: Closest to 138B with venation of 147C to             indistinguishable.         -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 1.1 cm. Width: Approximately             3.0 mm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent with a mixture             of long and short hairs. Gland color: Colorless. Color:             147C. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balcushite’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous             blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in             greenhouse environment.         -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately             10 to 12 days. -   Flower description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Simple, salverform. Quantity per             plant: Approximately 19. Fragrance: Slight.         -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 2 to 3 days for bud to             progress from first color to fully open flower. Quantity per             plant: Approximately 12.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Oblong. Length:             Approximately 3.3 cm. Diameter at apex: Approximately             7.0 mm. Diameter at base: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture:             Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless. Color             of petal portion: 145D with venation of 145A. Color of tube:             145B with venation of 145A.         -   Corolla.—Diameter: Approximately 6.0 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity: 5, fused to form a tube. Shape: Obovate.             Appearance: Dull. Margin: Entire, slightly wavy. Apex:             Cuspidate. Length from tube: Approximately 3.2 cm. Length of             free portion: Approximately 1.2 cm. Width: Approximately             2.7 cm. Texture of upper surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower             surface: Sparsely glandular pubescent. Gland color:             Colorless. Color of upper surface when first open: NN155D,             midveins of 146C. Color of lower surface when first and             fully open: NN155D, midveins of 145A. Color of upper surface             when fully open: NN155D, midveins of 146D.         -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 3.0 cm. Diameter at             distal end: Approximately 9.0 mm. Diameter at proximal end:             Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture of inner surface: Glabrous.             Texture of outer surface: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland             color: Colorless. Color of inner surface: Base of 150C             transitioning to NN155D toward tube opening, venation of             146C. Color of outer surface: Base of 145C transitioning to             NN155D toward petals, venation of 145A.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5, fused at base. Shape:             Linear. Apex: Acute. Length: Approximately 2.3 cm. Width:             Approximately 4.0 mm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:             Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless. Color             of upper surface: 137A. Color of lower surface: 138A with             144A at base.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: Acute angle to             stem. Length: Approximately 2.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately             2.0 mm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent with a mixture             of long and short hairs. Gland color: Colorless. Color:             144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 5,             basifixed. Stamen length: Approximately 2.5 cm. Filament             length of fixed portion: Approximately 9.0 mm. Filament             color: NN155A. Anther shape: Bilobed. Anther length:             Approximately 1.0 mm. Anther color: 158A. Pollen amount:             Abundant. Pollen color: 158B. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1             per flower. Pistil length: Approximately 2.7 cm. Stigma             shape: Funnel. Stigma length: Approximately 1.0 mm. Stigma             color: 145D. Style length: Approximately 2.3 cm. Style             color: 145D. Ovary length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Ovary             color: 144A. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Petunia has not been observed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant named ‘Balcushite’, substantially as herein illustrated and described. 